This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge & Support Community

Hello! My name is Makenna and I was diagnosed with MS over the summer. I have recently turned 19, and let me tell you, RRMS is not how I wanted to start my freshmen year of college.

However, a week or so ago, I woke up and my lower back felt stiff. In the mornings, or after long periods of not moving (such as sleeping) the instant I try to move my back (turning, bending over) it hurts. Its like an ache that gets sharper if my back is suddenly moved. After getting around and being active, its fine. But if I try and sit and have my feet up, it beings to ache like mad. Nothing has seemed to help.

I'm quite a distance from my hometown, and don't know if it is simply me needing to visit a chiropractor, or something else. I don't carry a heavy backpack, I try to have reasonably good posture, all that jazz.

Any ideas?

Posture, posture and posture is the simple answer. You're young enough to start an exercise regime to fix that. A sore lower back occurs because you are putting too much strain on it because of how you hold yourself.
My preference is Pilates because you can isolate muscles. Forget the diagnosis of MS and deal with this problem as anybody should. Once you see a good pilates instructor/physio, osteo etc you will be surprised how they see you. It's never flattering but it is how you begin to fix this.
Never ever give in to that syndrome. Do see someone about it. You don't need sweaty gyms but you do need someone who can read your body.

Regards

There is just no way of knowing for sure.

Last March, I had pain in my upper back that I thought was muscle strain. After a couple of months, the pain changed its location and instead of being constant, came and went. I soon realized it was from my MS. Over the past year, the sensations/pain/episodes have changed but still persist.

You will have to be patient and in time, you will know. It may be worth seeing a chiropractor at this time until you are able to determine exactly what is going on.

Hi there, I had a similar issue when I began drinking milk. I began drinking milk shakes every morning and eating cereal every night. This I believe caused an inflammation on my lower back because, like yourself, I began waking up with major lower back pain. I went to a sports medicine clinic and they took an x-ray of my lower back and it showed a stiff lower spine. It lasted a couple of months until I stopped drinking milk. I took the medication prescribed but it was just to numb the pain. The pain stopped after I stopped drinking milk and that was the end of my lower back pain. I'm not a doctor but, I play with food every once in a while to see how my body reacts, thus giving me the ability to control my symptoms. I hope my story is helpful in your case.

Hi
I've had lower back pain for 10 years or so post diagnosis. I'm currently trying the Alexander technique which I believe is helping with tightness in the lower back area.